-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –By Albert OGRAKA:
The Delta State House of Assembly has passed the 2020 State Appropriation Budget of N395, 475, 393, 668 billion into Law as against the initial N389 Billion presented to the House by The State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The passage of the Appropriation Bill 2020 followed the due process of the House, first through a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere seconded by Hon. Austin Chikezie from Aniocha South, that the House do now dissolved itself into the House Committee on Supply for the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations.
At the Committee of Supply, chaired by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, the house considered the report in line with the proposals made by the Finance and Appropriations Committee Chaired by Honourable Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu.
The House critically scrutinised the various sectors and the amount proposed by the Committee and made necessary amendments.
Having extensively considered the report of the Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the chairman Committee on Supply to resume his seat as Mr Speaker to report progress and was seconded by Hon. Felix Anirah from Sapele.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori said the House properly scrutinised the recurrent and capital expenditures which increased the initial proposed budget of three 389 billion naira presented to the House by the governor to N395, 475 billion.
With the addition, the capital expenditure now stands at N223.320 Billion while the recurrent expenditure is N172, 154 Billion.
Thereafter the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere moved a motion for the House to take the third reading and pass the bill into Law, and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Innocent Anidi from Ethiop East, before being adopted.
The Speaker thanked members for the passage of the 2020 Appropriation Bill, saying that the timely presentation and passage of the bill would enable government commence timely implementation.
In His words; “Dear colleagues, at the Committee of Supply, the year 2020 Appropriation Bill was meticulously scrutinized by members. Relevant contributions and amendments were proposed by Members that were very helpful in the consideration of the Bill. I thank you for a successful Committee of Supply.
According to him, Dear colleagues, I sincerely thank all of you for a job well done. From the First reading of this Bill to its final Passage, your wealth of knowledge and experience was brought to bear and I thank you. By the timely passage of this Bill, Delta State is on a good start to a new year. This bill will greatly impact the lives of Deltans and will move Delta State forward in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.”
He added that; “Permit me to also thank His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for his well timed presentation of the year 2020 Appropriation Bill in conformation with international best practice.”
Also at plenary, the House received the report of the Joint House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters and the Special Committee on Bill on The Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor’s Pension Rights and Other Benefits Amendment.
The report was presented to the House by the Chairman House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters, Hon Charles Oniyere from Ughelli North 1.
The House received the report following a motion by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere seconded by the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Solomon Ighrakpata.
